27. Thunderbolt

Adhyaya 1 - Pada 3 AdhikaraNa 9

The Thunderbolt in KaTha UpaniShad 2.3.2 Is The
Supreme Personality of Godhead


Introduction by shrIla Baladeva VidyAbhUShaNa



Now that this digression is concluded, he again reflects on the original topic.


ViShaya: In the KaTha UpaniShad is read the following pasage:

yad idaM ki~ncit jagat sarvaM
prANa ejati niHsR^itam
mahad bhayaM vajram udyataM
ya etad vidur amR^itAs te bhavanti


"When it breathes all the manifested world trembles in fear. They who know this thunderbolt become immortal."


SaMshaya: Does the word vajra here mean "thunderbolt" or the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

PUrvapakSha: Because the vajra here causes trembling, and because the description of liberation attained by understanding this vajra is merely a collection of meaningless poetic words, the word vajra here should be understood to mean "thunderbolt." For these reasons, and because the word prANa here does not mean "breath" but "protector," in this passage it is not possible to say that the word vajra means "the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Because the phrase udyataM vajram (raised thunderbolt) contradicts this second interpretation, the word vajra must mean "thunderbolt."

SiddhAnta: The conclusion follows.


SUtra 39


kampanAt


kampanAt - because of trembling.



Because (the entire world) trembles (the vajra must be the Supreme Personality of Godhead).


Purport by shrIla Baladeva VidyAbhUShaNa



Because it makes the entire universe tremble, this vajra must be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is so also because of the following statement of Brahma-vaivarta PurANa:

cakraM ca~NkramaNAd eSha
vajanAd vajram ucyate
khaNDanAt khaDga evaiSha
heti-nAmA hariH svayam


"Because He goes (ca~NkramaNa) everywhere He is called "Cakra" (moving in a circle). Because He moves about (vajana He is called "Vajra" (thunderbold). Because He cuts apart (khaNDana) the demons He is called "KhaDga" (sword). These are names of Lord Hari."


Also, because the word prANa (breath) and the word bhaya (fear) are used, the passage must refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In these ways it is established that the word vajra here refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.


SUtra 40


jyotir-darshanAt


jyotiH - effulgence; darshanAt - because of seeing.



It is so because the vajra is described as jyotiH (splendor).


Purport by shrIla Baladeva VidyAbhUShaNa



Before the passage discussed is the following statement (KaTha UpaniShad 2.2.15): na tatra sUryo bhAti na candra-tArake (When He does not shine, then neither sun, moon, nor stars show their splendor). After the passage discussed is the statement (KaTha UpaniShad 2.3.3) bhayAd asyAgnis tapati (Out of fear of Him fire glows). In both these passages the Supreme Personality of Godhead is described as transcendental splendor, and therefore the passage describing the vajra (thunderbolt) between these two passages, must refer to the efulgent Supreme Personality of Godhead.